NBC News (10/19, Leake) reports a study suggests that “a cognitive training program may boost production of a brain chemical that plays a role in memory and attention.” For the study, two groups “were asked to spend 30 minutes a day doing an assigned activity on a computer or mobile device for 10 weeks. People in the intervention group did BrainHQ exercises, while those in the control group played games designed for entertainment.” Researchers observed that “people in the BrainHQ group had a 2.3% increase in acetylcholine production in the anterior cingulate cortex, a part of the brain important for learning, memory, attention and executive function. Those in the control group didn’t have a significant change. The research claims to be the first of its kind to show that brain training exercises can offset natural decline in cholinergic function.” The study published was published in JMIR Serious Games. (SOURCE: APA Headlines)